MRSA staph infection

Pamela, I messaged my friend in NH about this as she had it. As sppm as she responds I'll let you know how she and the doc grated it. Be well

Pamela this is my friends response. Maybe some STT people can recommend another doctor. stay strong

Quote from Jackie

bombi, I was on orals of both Bactrim and Macrobid.

It was the 5 days of IV's at the hospital that kicked it. Just orals won't do it (I don't think). She should be getting at least a 3-hour infusion daily.

MRSA NEVER goes away; in my system forever.

She can't fuck around with this David..

Pamela: There is not an infectious disease specialist currently on island. You might want to try someone in internal medicine.

Thanks for the info. Have done the 5 day IV and it helped then went on oral something or other and it was good UNTIL I stopped. On Bactrin now and it appears to be doing better but I worry what will happen when I stop that.

WOW this stuff is nasty! Thanks for all your help.

Pamela

My brother came very close to death before it was diagnosed. He contracted MRSA after Katrina on the coast of MS. He was transferred to the University of MS Medical Center in Jackson, MS. The infectious disease specialist saved his life! After speaking with the specialist myself, it was and is common knowledge that areas affected by Katrina have high levels of MRSA among the population of coastal areas. Certain hospitals with deep experience treating MRSA on a regular basis are hospitals in LA. & MS. I have mentioned UMC in Jackson, but Oschner's in NO has a special unit for MRSA. There are others in the area.

Remember, MRSA SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY, IT IS DEADLY! I HAVE FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE. The first Hospital/doctors that treated my brother mis-diagnosed as a terminal cancerous tumor! It took going to a research hospital before being treated successfully. He still walks among the living thanks to a knowledgeable infectious disease specialist at UMC.

The longer you screw around with treatment the more damage it does.......MRSA is very complicated. Go to a hospital that is familiar with treatments. After Katrina, it is very prevalent.

Good morning Pamela,
So sorry that you are dealing with this MRSA situation.
May I offer some comments, although you may be all-to- familiar with them by now:

The bacterium must be - or should have been - cultured at the onset to determine if it was/ is MRSA. At the same time, the laboratory would have conducted a susceptibility profile to determine exactly what antibiotic(s) it is resistant and susceptible to. This is a very important step in the process since S. aureus mutates quickly.

Bactrim (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole), Vibramycin (doxycycline), for instance, are two antibiotics which are used in the treatment of methicillin resistant staph. There are others.

Oftentimes, two antibiotics are used in concert to treat the infection. Methicillin resistant Staph aureus can become resistant to the antibiotic(s) used in treatment; at times, the antibiotic(s) must be changed during the course of treatment.

S. aureus is tough, the full course of treatment must be followed (do not stop taking the med(s) before the end of the prescribed treatment period.) My concern at the moment is that six weeks have passed without resolution of the infection (since it returned once again) and I would address if the Staph was now resistant to the antibiotic initially prescribed. One must stay diligently "on top" of this affliction relentlessly as you are well aware, so as to prevent it from compromising other areas as well (bone) etc.

Stay strong. We are all with you Pamela,

Swan

Dr. Richard Olans on STX has a sub-specialty in Infectious Disease. I met him socially a couple of years ago, so I don't know much about his practice.

More info at http://www.vitals.com/doctors/Dr_Richard_Olans.html

I had a MRSA infection many years ago when few doctors were adept at diagnosing it. Now most are trained to identify and treat it.

You all have probably had MRSA and didn't know it. Like a lot of infections, a healthy body can usually fight it off. If you get a cut/infection/redspot that doesn't start to clear up in a few days with 'regular' antibiotics, request the MRSA antibiotics like bactrim.

It is now considered a normal part of the flora & fauna, but it is especially common in hospitals and gyms (it loves to be passed by sweat).

Healthy people need not worry too much about it. However, if you are already sick, elderly, having surgery, let it get out of control, or have a depressed immune system, you should pay close attention. And if you're taking care or visit such people, pass the Purell!

Again, thanks for all the advice. The proper tests were done and antibiotics were used. We are now on the bactrim and it seems to be working. I go in every other day to get the wound dressed and looked at. This too shall pass.

Pamela

Wanted to update everyone. The new antibiotics are working! Swelling has reduced tremendously - as the PA said "it's returning to fat". Who thought that would ever have a lovely sound to it. Anyway, thanks for all the good thoughts.

I am joining the gym by CUL (STT) on June 1 if there is anyone who cares to join me. Figure if I have to have physical therapy I might as well work out the rest of the old body also.

Pamela

good news, pamela

Good afternoon Pamela,

Wonderful news and many thanks for the update! "It's returning to fat" is the greatest news to hear!
Stay diligent, will you?
Swan

Arm is healing nicely. Almost ready to lose the bandage! Actually started working out at the gym this week. Am off the pain meds and antibiotics are over on Thursday. I hope we finally killed the little SOB this time! If not, well I have almost total use of the arm again and am sure we can fight it again!

Thanks for all the support.

Pamela

Pamela,
What great news! Feeling free to speak for many, thank you for your update and we all, perhaps, can now relax our posture a bit and breathe in a wonderful sigh of relief.

And while we can return to "DEFCON 5" (:-)) once again, continue to stay diligent, will you?
Many thanks.

Swan

SwanS,

Thank you! I can assure that for the very first time in my life I am the model patient! This stuff was scary.

Pamela

good news Pamela, and you got cured in the VI, Yes, when you get into the hard core antibiotics it is scary. be well

Wanted to update everyone. The new antibiotics are working! Swelling has reduced tremendously - as the PA said "it's returning to fat". Who thought that would ever have a lovely sound to it. Anyway, thanks for all the good thoughts.

I am joining the gym by CUL (STT) on June 1 if there is anyone who cares to join me. Figure if I have to have physical therapy I might as well work out the rest of the old body also.

Pamela

Please remember that gyms and lockerrooms are prime locations for MRSA.

1) Staph lives on the skin and in hair follicles, and is easily transmitted by sweat.
2) People tend to wipe their sweat, and carry towels with them, and then touch the equipment.

In many stateside gyms they have someone walking around with a spray bottle all day. Or they have wipes by the equipment.